Rock painting has been very close to my heart due to two reasons. It was my first step to the world of Painting and secondly it helped me a lot when I came to this country and was very homesick. It is so gratifying that each time I paint an animal, it always brings a smile to my face. I stumbled on to the art of Rock painting when I came across the book 'The Art of Painting Animals on Rock" by Lin Wellford. Excellent book if you are a beginner. It is exactly as the author says - "bringing stones to life".

There are many creeks and streams you might visit where you can gather rocks and stones to your hearts content. But if for some reason you don't find any , that's okay.... You can go to your nearby Garden center and pick Decorative Rocks in whichever size you like.The requirements are that the stone should not be wobbly and should sit on one or more sides. Try to pick up stones which have an overall smooth surface.A few nicks to me does not matter as it brings character to my painting. If you find bigger holes , then fill it with a wood filler and sand it when it is dry. It is a good idea to thoroughly clean the rock and allow it to dry before painting.

Tools for the trade

Rock

Chalk

Wide flat brush

Thin Liner Brush

Rounded Brush

Acrylic Paint

Palette and water to rinse

Step By StepInstructions

Step 1 Divide your stone in to three sections. 2 Equal Wings and a slightly smaller head. Make the outline with the chalk.If your first attempt is not satisfactory,wipe it with a wet tissue.

Step 2Cover every part with black paint except for the wings.

Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before you go to the next step.

Step 3 Now add color to your Wings. Red or Yellow. You can use your flat brush. Paint around the edges of the wing, and if you need more than one coat, let the paint dry between applications. If you accidentally paint over the black,don't panic!!!! Let it dry and then fix your mistake. Paint the spots with black.Use White for the eye and black for Antennae. Bring a personality to your bug by the expression she wears. It is totally up to you the creator.

References

The Art of Painting Animals on Rocks by Lin Wellford

Painting More Animals on Rocks by Lin Wellford

My Gallery

Two of my young friends were kind enough to give me a picture of their work shown below: